New Delhi: The Centre has stepped up efforts to secure the upcoming NEET-UG 2026 re examination by involving major technology platforms including Meta, Google and Telegram to tackle misinformation and fake paper leak claims circulating online.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high level meeting on Wednesday with central security and intelligence agencies to review preparations for the re examination and assess possible security vulnerabilities ahead of the test scheduled on June 21.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency were present during the review meeting, where authorities discussed preventive and corrective measures to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination.
In a parallel meeting with representatives from Meta, Google and Telegram, the government raised concerns about the increasing spread of misinformation related to competitive examinations through anonymous online groups and Telegram channels. Officials said several fake channels become highly active before major examinations, spreading false paper leak claims, unverified messages and misleading content that create panic among students and parents.
According to officials, many of these channels redirect users to automated bots and fraudulent groups designed to amplify misinformation. Intelligence agencies reportedly informed the government that multiple suspicious channels appeared to be operating through a limited number of phone numbers, indicating coordinated activity.
Taking serious note of the issue, Dharmendra Pradhan directed authorities to launch a focused crackdown on networks spreading fake information. The minister instructed agencies and social media platforms to proactively identify, block and remove misleading channels and propaganda before the examination.
He emphasised that protecting students from misinformation and maintaining confidence in the examination system remained a top priority for the government. The minister also stressed the need for close coordination between social media companies, the Ministry of Education, the National Testing Agency and law enforcement agencies.
The original NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak. The matter is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
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